China blasts Philippine vessel anew with water cannon

MANILA, Philippines — China Coast Guard and militia vessels again used water cannons and made dangerous maneuvers in an attempt yesterday to block a Philippine resupply mission for troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

The incident was the latest in a series of confrontations between the two nations over maritime disputes that risk turning into more serious armed engagements.

“At 7:30 a.m., today, Nov. 10, 2023, CCG and CMM vessels recklessly harassed, blocked and executed dangerous maneuvers in another attempt to illegally impede or obstruct a routine resupply and rotation mission to BRP Sierra Madre (LS 57) at Ayungin Shoal,” the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said in statement. CMM refers to the Chinese maritime militia.

Philippine resupply boats Unaizah Mae 1 (UM1) and M/L Kalayaan were able to reach the Sierra Madre to unload their cargo “despite being subjected to extremely reckless and dangerous harassment at close proximity” by CCG’s rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) inside the Ayungin Shoal lagoon.

The NTF-WPS said CCG vessel with hull number 5203 blasted the Kalayaan with water cannon “in an illegal though unsuccessful attempt to force the latter to alter course.”

It said the Philippine embassy in Beijing has raised a protest before the Chinese foreign ministry while the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has conveyed its indignation through the Maritime Communications Mechanism.

“We firmly insist that Chinese vessels responsible for these illegal activities leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately. We condemn, once again, China’s latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, that has put the lives of our people at risk,” the task force said.

“The systematic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue,” its statement read.

The NTF-WPS noted that the Philippines has acted responsibly, consistent with rules-based